8/17/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GARY M. BRANDENBURG County Attorney 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 (305) 567-8000 f CHRISTOPHER J. PAULL Asst. County Attorney (305) 567-8000 August 12, 1983 Preston Mighdoll, Esq. Board Chairman Mental Helath Board No. 9, Inc. 169 Tequesta Drive, Suite 23-E Tequesta, Florida 33458 Dear Mr. Mighdoll: The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Martin Counties have reviewed the District 9 Mental Health Board Plan and are unable to approve it at this time for the reasons discussed in the remainder of this letter. Each of the respective counties view the plan as the major guiding force in determining the delivery of services in the five county area and feel that it is essential to develop a plan that meets the requirements of the pertinent Florida Statutes. as well.as the needs of the district. As you are aware, the four county area for the last three to four years has challenged the equity achieved by the Board's distribution policy and consequently the distribution of services throughout the district. The four counties have patiently requested and awaited positive action by the Board to eliminate the clear disparities that exist. The goal prioritization memorandum prepared by Mental Health Board No. 9 staff on July 26, 1983 for the Planning and Evaluation Committee serves to highlight our continuing concern. This memorandum indicates that the current disbursement of services does not treat the four county area fairly. It shows a total of thirty alcohol and mental health treatment beds for the entire four county area with a total of 334 (not clear whether this includes an estimated 50 drug treatment beds shown in Plan) in Palm Beach County. This breaks down to approximately one bed for every 8,217 people in the four county area as compared to one bed for every 1,831 people in the Palm Beach County area or a ratio of 1 to 4.49. We recognize that bed ratios are not a completely accurate method of determining equity. For a portion of the district could spend their funds on items other than providing beds thereby exaggerating the bed deficiency ratio. However, as you are also aware when one looks at the funds spent by the Board in the four county area as compared to Palm Beach County one is faced with no other alternative than to conclude that the four county area is not receiving an equitable distribution of ;services or funds. We believe that the conclusion reached by the Board's own consultant, that a crisis with respect to beds exists in the four county area, indicates immediate action that is sure to solve the problem is necessary. The four county.area recognizes and appreciates the Board's recognition of the situation and recent action of reallocating $46,000 to IRMCH to hire two case managers, provide some psychiatric time and secretary time for the Center's inpatient unit. This together with the legislature's appropriation of $169,000 for FY'83-'84 is a beginning in the right direction. With the cont.inuing legislative appropriation to the four county area of deinstitutionalization money equity with respect to this issue will be achieved in 1985. We believe that it is essential for the plan to contain a policy, method and timetable to assure E3] AUG 171983 Baal( 54 PAGE 38.1.